Jatz's travels

[JATZ]

After a cool night, peering out at the stars listening to the surf and watching an orsum moonrise, I got up, grabbed George and wandered the 15 meters down to the beach





George didn't seem fazed by the angry clouds in the distance



I packed up and got ready to hit the road



Wondering what the day had in store First along the beach front...



Then up the hill and into the forest, through a few puddles



You'll have to excuse the quality of the next couple of pics as it was a tad damp again and my lense cleaning hanky had got a bit damp and was buried in the bowels of the tank bag.... Anyway.... through a little creek



And over a little bridge



Little wooden bridges like that make me a little nervous when it's that wet they can be a little slippery. It was a nice ride in the morning, if a little dark under the heavy tree cover, as I knew where I was going. I had a couple of deer go leaping off the road in front of me at one stage. Pretty soon we left the trees behind and the rain too.



And headed back towards Tuatapere Now... Who knew Tuatapere was the sausage capital of N.Z. ??



I didn't, but I do now and consider myself a better person for it. I had to pull into Monkey Isl. just to show George that there wasn't really any monkeys there



We got to Riverton, where I stopped for a late brunch, then carried on through to Invergiggle. Besides grabbing some gas I didn't stop again. I should spend some time there as I like that town I've been to Bluff before so figured I'd give that a miss too. I imagine it hasn't changed much
I continued heading East through the Catlins. I almost had one of those moments through here, no pic though. Try to picture this... I came round a bend, over a hill top and laid out before me was a proper farming valley, the sun was shining, making the green of the grass really pop, so bright it was almost unnatural, there was stands of native in some of the gullies, a gravel road winding across the valley and snaking it's way up the hill on the other side, and an old barn down on the valley floor, all this under a sky the colour of lead.It really was quite stunning. I took a mental picture of it, and carried on, down to Slope point





I won't bore you with the selfie I took there, with George. I thought there would've been more than just a sign and a little light house there, but it was nice to see it was still pretty raw, the cliffs weren't even fenced. Cool
Anyway... We carried on around the coast a bit more, stopping only to be disappointed by the "petrified forest"



I thought the trees would've been standing up, nevermind
Then instead of carrying on round the coast I consulted the map and picked a route through the middle of it which should drop me around Clinton.
Through the Catlins conservation area



and along some more back roads...



Popping out exactly where I should've been A hard right, through Clinton and onto Balclutha where I scored some cool digs for the night



Time to do some washing, dry some stuff and charge batteries.
Day 4

[JATZ]

Right... where was I ?

After a rough night in Balclutha, I didn't sleep much I gathered up all the crap I seem to carry, chucked George in his spot in the tank bag, rugged up with more layers than an onion and set sail... Intending to head across towards Gore and have a poke around up some back roads before calling in on Shrek. I hadn't gone far before my fingers were numb (despite the heaters being on full) the roads were wet and greasy and morale took a tumble I decided to just head straight to Shreks up the Clutha river rd.
I thought this would be a cool place to live



Aside from seeing something that looked like a bear ( I don't think there's bears down there ) crossing the road at the other end of a long straight, nothing remarkable happened I got to Shreks just in time for a brew and we chewed the fat for a bit before he snuck Mrs Shreks Harley out of the shed and warmed it up for me. I've never ridden a Harley before so it was nice to tick that off the bucket list. I didn't go far, just up to the Roxborough dam for a quick photo shoot



Before I had to get back to the swamp, passing Shrek on the way. He was heading to town, so left me to my own devices. Always good to see the big fellah
A quick scan of the map and I picked out a route... down there, through there and onto that road which should put me over there
I went down there, through Lawrence and hung a left onto Matheson rd, up the hill and it looked like a farm road , down the hill on the other side, round a corner and up what looked like a nice track, noticing a nice lake down to the left and a muddy track round it.



A quick glance at the GPS and I realized I taken a wrong turn and needed to be down by the lake, a quick u turn and down onto the muddy track. It was slipperier than a bucket of wrestling eels with some good pot holes. Someone had run a mob of sheep along it too Hard enough to walk on in MX boots let alone ride on



Through the gate and across the paddock, following the little dotted line on the devil box. Got to the other end and found this



A quick walk on the other side of the gate and the track got much better, shame I couldn't get there. Another u turn and back the way I'd come



I shot back up the wrong turn track hoping there was a way through there, across a couple more paddocks and I could see where I wanted to be. I just couldn't get there, and didn't want to be riding round on private property without permission.
Sooooo... back to Lawrence and get where I wanted to be that way, onto Waipori rd, what a cool road
I stopped near the top and had a nut bar while George scuttled off to play in the snow on the road side



It was a nice place to be



Before long it turned into Waipori Falls rd and went past Lake Mahinerangi



And through some forestry



I was just cruising along when all of a sudden the road turned to seal and there was houses and signs of civilization, it reminded me a bit of Taui on the Lake Waikerimoana rd. Anyway... there was a power station there



I took George for a walk up to the crystal falls, I think we were both disappointed by the whole deal, but it was a nice walk anyway.
I thought this was pretty cool, it seemed so out of place



We carried on out to Outram and then onto Mosgiel for the night

Day 5

[JATZ]

A much better night's sleep and lots of hot showers later I left Mosgiel feeling better and a little bit soggy
Looking back on the Taiere plains from 3 mile hill rd



Over the top and down the other side I hung a left onto a road which I thought would join another one which should allow me to bypass Dunedin. I should look more closely at things sometimes
Here's Whare flat rd



Which should put me onto Rollinsons rd which might let me get back the main rd further on... Or not



Never mind... Back through Dunners and head North on the main drag, it was a nice morning for it though



Onto Oamaru where I hung out for a bit



And looked around some of the old buildings



With some girls I worked with during the harvest



George made some new friends too



I spent a bit to long chilling out and left for Chch a bit later than I wanted, but such is life.
Headphones in, GPS set to navigate and it was just a slog up the Canterbury plains. Arriving after dark and trying to follow a GPS who hasn't been told about road closures and detours



Another day almost done



But not before checking out this thing. It not to shabby

[JATZ]

A late start the next day and I pootled off for a ride around on Banks Peninsula with the G.W.





Some really cool riding out that way. Here's Port Levy



and Pigeon bay



and finished the day in Akaroa



Sunday rolled around and after brekky and saying "G'day to Mulletman and a couple of mates, sorry I didn't catch your names, it was just home time after dropping of the G.W. Headphones back in...



put the head down and head over Lewis pass, getting home after dark and realizing I really need to upgrade my head lights

It was a nice week away, but I don't think I'll head back down there in the winter for a while, a bit over it.

Where to next ?? International ?

[Maha]

That Pigeon bay photo is wow! James.

[Moi]

Another great write-up and superb photos. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful country and it's great to see it through another person's eyes.

Thanks.

International travel? what about Waiheke?

[JATZ]

Another great write-up and superb photos. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful country and it's great to see it through another person's eyes.

Thanks.

International travel? what about Waiheke?

Waiheke ?? .... Hmmmm, haven't been there Do I need a passport ??

I'd love to go for a ride round Rangitoto

[JATZ]

I really need to upgrade my head lights

Thanks to the good buggers at MotoMox..... SORTED !!

Old low beam



A little bit of dismantling to get to the right wire



A little bit of solder here and there



VOILA !!!



They even look the shiz




And after that I said goodbye to an old friend

A little music to set the tone (works best if you play the music while watching the other vid)



Good bye my old friend.... we've had some good times, and some not so good May you guide an angel down some godforsaken muddy shity track in the back of beyond

[timg]

Thanks to the good buggers at MotoMox..... SORTED !!

A little bit of dismantling to get to the right wire

Ha! Looks similar to what I needed to do to change a blown build on the Transalp!
Nice ride

[young1]

Awesome scenery, thank you for sharing.

[Moi]

Waiheke ?? .... Hmmmm, haven't been there Do I need a passport ??

I'd love to go for a ride round Rangitoto

I thought you needed a passport to cross the strait...

You can walk round Rangitoto... might be able cycle it...

[RMOTO]

...And after that I said goodbye to an old friend

Ha, I was only joking when I said set fire to it!! Crazy mofo

[Tazz]

Always a good read this thread, cheers dude.

Good spot. We took a long term lease and had the shop on the end there built for us yonks ago. Used to be able to fish and jump out that top window quite nicely

[JATZ]

I thought you needed a passport to cross the strait...

You can walk round Rangitoto... might be able cycle it...

I spent a bit of time cruising round over there as a youf, the scouts had a batch we stayed in. It's a cool place. I've visited some of the other islands in the gulf, but never Waiheke.

Ha, I was only joking when I said set fire to it!! Crazy mofo

it was either that or a viking funeral but I didn't have time to build a boat and it's a bit of a walk to the dam...

Good spot. We took a long term lease and had the shop on the end there built for us yonks ago. Used to be able to fish and jump out that top window quite nicely

I would've stopped in and got something for the G.W. but the place was shut

Ha! Looks similar to what I needed to do to change a blown build on the Transalp!
Nice ride

You should get a BMW

[_Shrek_]

I spent a bit of time cruising round over there as a youf, the scouts had a batch we stayed in. It's a cool place. I've visited some of the other islands in the gulf, but never Waiheke.

you can take the bike across that way you'll get around better